Many coaches believe to build a successful team and program, it has to be challenged by its schedule.

Despite some significant lineup changes and inexperience in the lineups, Clearview Regional High School girls basketball coach Neil Bress and Woodstown’s Joe Ursino have done just that for their players.

The Pioneers’ first five scheduled games were all against top programs, from division foes like Williamstown and Kingsway to Lenape and Seneca over Christmas and a Saturday visit from Cedar Creek. Just three players entered the year with varsity experience — senior Alexa Plitt, junior Liz Kramer and sophomore Hannah Quast — but they’re all getting it in spades now.

“I think the entire schedule is the toughest we’ll have in the time I’ve been coaching,” said Bress, whose team is off to an 0-3 start in his 10th year. “We decided not to back away from anybody. We’ll see how that works out. I subscribe to the theory that you get better playing better people. Monday when we got together I spoke to everyone individually and in small groups, the first three games were tough.

“They’re not discouraged, which was my biggest worry. Everybody wants to win, they’re very competitive … (but) they’ve bought into the fact they’re going to get better. The captains (Plitt and Kramer) have been very good leaders.”

Clearview also faces teams like Holy Spirit, Sterling, Lower Cape May and Timber Creek in addition to their Tri-County Conference Royal Division schedule. Woodstown (1-2) is in the Tri-Co Diamond, opening with Deptford and getting its first look at No. 1 Gloucester Catholic Saturday.

The Wolverines graduated seven seniors and feature just two returning varsity players in Kayla Mayers and Ali Sottile, but rallied to down a 7-1 Abington Friends team in Wildwood last week and held their own against unbeaten Absegami.

“Graduation is part of coaching high school basketball,” Ursino said. “A lot of people have put the rebuilding label on us, but we’re not accepting it. I told the team Thursday night, we’re going into every game to win. Not to go all Herm Edwards, but you play to win the game. To expose the kids to competitive high school basketball, you play teams with a better record than you.

“One of our keys, we absolutely have to rebound. Offensively we may not lead the league in rebounds, but on the defensive end we’re going to do everything to keep them one and done. If we do that the game will take care of itself.”

Ursino credited the work of starting senior Teaunah Moulden and Mayers in that area, and Bress noted its importance as well and mentioned the progress of his inexperienced, undersized forward combo of Ali Donohue and Kori Warren.

The Wolverines also play Kingsway and Timber Creek and see Millville late in the year, and Ursino sees the Pioneers as a model to aim for when continuing building without sinking to rebuilding.

“That’s where I want to be someday,” Ursino said of Clearview’s schedule. “Abington Friends was a really good win for us, it was a good way to go into 2014. Once we start to get into the flow a little bit, I think we’re going to be all right. The back end of our schedule prepares us, we plan on being ready to go into the playoffs.”

“Every minute these kids play, we’re dressing 11 on varsity and we’ve played 10 in every game, is valuable,” said Bress. “Only one (game so far) wasn’t competitive, but I want them to know we’re where we need to be. The first two kids coming off the bench are (usually) freshmen. It’s the experience they’re going to bring back next year.”

The Patriots hounded the Rams sophomore point guard all day, often forcing senior Becky Pund to bring the ball upcourt and keeping McIntyre from finding an offensive rhythm. It could be a blueprint other opponents try to follow, especially those with guard depth.

A spark off the bench until injuries forced her into the lineup last season, she was a big part of a 26-3 record. But head coach Lisa Gedaka made a point of noting McIntyre’s contributions to Tuesday’s win as well despite the extra attention.

“They were face-guarding Maggie McIntyre the whole game, and I thought she played great,” Gedaka said. “She didn’t force anything. We weren’t able to start the offense through her ... but I think she played a great game with decision-making and defense. If we’re going to win, it’s got to be everybody.”

• THOUSAND ISLAND: Former Sacred Heart standout forward Kennedy Johnson, who transferred to Wildwood Catholic after her former school closed in June, scored her 1,000th career point in a 58-49 win over Washington Township at the Boardwalk Basketball Classic last Sunday. The senior, who has committed to Michigan State, finished the game with a game-high 21 points to give her 1,002 for her career.